Lately, approval of visit visas has been on the rise, with applicants increasingly providing all necessary documents, say travel industry executives. Visitors coming to the UAE are required to carry a return air ticket, proof of accommodation, and a certain amount of funds.
The majority of visit visas were being rejected as applicants failed to meet legal requirements, according to travel agents. However, awareness campaigns by the authorities as well as travel agencies have pushed visitors to follow the regulations.
The UAE, especially Dubai, receives millions of tourists every year. The number of tourists from rich countries is growing, resulting in higher spending by tourists locally. Dubai received 16.79 million tourists during the first 11 months of 2024, an increase of 9 per cent. Western Europe was the top source region, accounting for 20 per cent of the total number of visitors.
Sheras Sharaf, operations manager at Arab World Tourism, said his firm saw the approval rate of visit visas rise by about 5-6 per cent in the last quarter of 2024. This is significantly higher than the "1-2 per cent" increase his company has traditionally seen per quarter.
Rikin Sheth, assistant vice-president, B2C at Musafir.com, said there were rejections but travel agencies have been educating customers to attach genuine accommodation hotel and flight details.
He added that Dubai is one of the hottest-selling destinations in South Asia because people feel at home in a country like the UAE.
“Historically, we have always seen a surge in business during the winter season, considering the Dubai Shopping Festival. We see 20-25 per cent increase in the number of tourists in the coming months.”
Rikin Sheth said that if applicants attach genuine documents, there is no reason why their visas will be rejected. “Hence, the approval rates have significantly improved,” he said.
Sheras Sharaf said applicants who provide all the necessary documents — such as confirmed round-trip flight tickets, hotel bookings, or proof of accommodation when staying with relatives, including tenancy agreements and the resident’s Emirates ID — are more likely to secure visa approvals.
“Ensuring complete and accurate documentation has become essential for a successful application,” he added.
Sharaf elaborated that there is a big increase in visit visa bookings during the Dubai Shopping Festival and the end-of-year period because of the rise in tourism and shopping.
However, he added that the visit visas of many travellers, especially those from South Asia, were rejected because they couldn’t provide confirmed return tickets or valid hotel bookings, which are now being closely checked.
